“Some players out there play deliberately to hurt players or to get them out of their game,” Smith said. “Whatever you call it, I don't think it's a just way to play. I don't think it's a courageous way to play.”

MRI for Brown

Texans left tackle Duane Brown was limping badly in the locker room after the game after taking a blow to his left knee on the onside kick attempt on the next-to-last play of the game.

He said he would get an MRI today to see what, if any, damage had been done.

“I should be all right, I think,” Brown said.

Home-field disadvantage

After going 6-2 the past two seasons at home, the best the Texans can do this season is 4-4 after they lost for the fourth time in six games at Reliant Stadium. They play Seattle on Dec. 13 and New England on Jan. 3.

The Texans' record against the AFC South also fell to 1-4 with just next weekend's game at Jacksonville remaining. They were 2-4 vs. division teams in 2008 and 1-5 in 2007.

Asked why the Texans fell apart Sunday after coming out so strong, receiver Andre Johnson said: “In the first half everybody was making plays. Then the second half was a totally different story. I think it was about our execution. (The Colts) really didn't change anything.”

But nobody could get Johnson to wallow in his disappointment.

“I don't think it's difficult to stay positive,” he said. “When you play a football game, win or lose, you have to forget about it and move on because you have another opponent next week. We have to come in, correct our mistakes and move on.”

Texans applauded

Colts coach Jim Caldwell praised the Texans for their fast start, saying: “That's a heck of a football team. They literally owned that first half. They did a good job of running on us and, overall, they just did a tremendous job.”

But Caldwell said his unbeaten Colts were hardly ready to panic.

“Our guys showed a lot of heart (by coming back) in the second half,” he said. “We owned the second half and played extremely well. Our halftime adjustments are fairly basic. There's not a lot of screaming and yelling or anything of that nature. We just talk it out and the guys know what they have to do.”

The Texans' 20-7 halftime lead was the largest they had held over the Colts.

Businessman's special

Quarterback Peyton Manning said the Colts' 20 consecutive regular-season victories are the result of the team's businesslike nature.

“Our guys play just as hard for every team we play,” he said. “You like being around guys that have respect for their job and take it seriously. That doesn't guarantee you are going to win every game, but you sure like the way you feel about your team going into each game.”

The Colts (11-0) are one win shy of tying New England's NFL record for regular-season victories without a loss. They were last defeated by Tennessee on Oct. 27, 2008, which dropped them to 3-4 before a 9-0 finish.

Leach's touchdown

The Texans scored on their first drive for the first time this season when Matt Schaub found fullback Vonta Leach on a 7-yard TD pass.

“It felt really good to get that touchdown,” Leach said. “But I'd rather have the win any day.”

After the score, Leach celebrated by acting as if he were driving a nail with a sledgehammer. His teammates often call him “The Hammer” because of his stout blocking skills.

The touchdown reception was Leach's first of the season and fourth of his career. The last time the Texans scored on the opening drive was Dec. 21, 2008, when Leach scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

“It's definitely a bittersweet touchdown now,” Leach said.

Rookie picks

Sunday marked the first time two rookies intercepted Colts quarterback Peyton Manning passes in the same game.

In 187 career games, Manning has had multiple-interception games only 47 times. Texans linebacker Brian Cushing got his third interception of the season near the end of the first quarter, and cornerback Brice McCain got his first in the final minute of the second quarter.

“It was my first interception, and it didn't really matter to me who it was off of,” McCain said. “But Peyton Manning is a great player and everybody knows that so it was a blessing to get one off of him.”